TITLE: Finland's Ministry of Justice Seeks Consultation on United Nations Sanctions Implementation Legislation
BODY:
On the consultation service Lausuntopalvelu.fi, Finland's Ministry of Justice, acting through the Foreign Ministry, opened a consultation on a government proposal to parliament regarding the implementation of certain United Nations sanctions. The consultation reference number is VN/35821/2025, with responses due by September 10, 2026, at 4:15pm.
The proposed legislation aims to modernise Finland's sanctions framework by updating the existing sanctions act (laki eräiden Suomelle Yhdistyneiden Kansakuntien ja Euroopan unionin jäsenenä kuuluvien velvoitusten täyttämisestä), which currently contains outdated provisions for implementing UN sanctions. The new framework would enable Finland to implement UN personal and entity sanctions at the national level without delay, serving as an interim procedure until the European Union incorporates UN Security Council sanctions into its union sanctions regulations. The proposal includes amendments to the sanctions act and the enforcement code, and certain UN Security Council resolutions will be implemented nationally. The legislation is intended to enter into force in winter 2027.
The primary objective is to prevent circumvention of asset-freezing obligations contained in UN sanctions and ensure effective national implementation. UN sanctions address terrorism and weapons of mass proliferation, requiring the freezing of assets and economic resources of listed persons and entities. Delays in national implementation allow listed entities to transfer, sell, conceal, or use assets before freezing takes effect, undermining sanction effectiveness. The proposal also aims to fulfil Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations 6 and 7 regarding the prompt implementation of asset-freezing obligations under UN sanctions.
Responses can be submitted through the consultation service or by email to the ministry's registry at [email protected], referencing case number VN/35821/2025. All submitted opinions will be published on the government project pages (valtioneuvosto.fi/hankkeet, reference UM019:00/2025), though private individuals' responses will only be published online upon written request.